Pruning implement.



M. B. MILLER.

PRUNING IMPLEMENT.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.2I. 1914.

Patented Mayl 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

j7/U67ZZO 2 N fi l h 8 2226!- M. B. MILLER.

PRUNING IMPLEMENT.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.2I. 1914.

Patented May 1, 1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

MERWIN 1B. MILLER, OF WILLARD, UTAH.

PRUNING IMPLEMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 1, 1917.

Application filed September 21, 1914. Serial No. 862,708.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MERWIN B. MEIER, a citizen of the United States,residing at 'Willard, in the county of Boxelder and State of Utah, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Pruning Implements, ofwhich the following is a description.

My invention belongs to that general class of devices known as pruningimplements, and more particularly designated as pruning saws. With myimproved device the saw is maintained in its out and may be controlledwith the desired amount of pressure upon the same. In the preferredconstruction the same is made so that it may be handled or operated atsome distance away from the branch or limb to be severed. With theimproved construction a comparatively thin saw blade may be employed,the device operating in as efiicient a manner as if an ordinary handsaw. The invention has among its objects the production of a device ofthe kind described that is simple, convenient, durable, efficient andsatisfactory, that may be used wherever found applicable.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangementand combination of parts herein shown and described, and moreparticularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like orcorresponding parts,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of my device;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a portion of the same, showing a modifiedadjustment;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the device; v

Fig. 4 is substantially a top view of the same;

Fig. 5 is an end elevation looking substantially from the line 5, 5 ofFig. 3, the saw blade being shown in section;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 6, 6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 7, 7 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 8, 8 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of a slightly different form of my device;

Fig. 10 is a top elevation of the same;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged View of a portion of the same;

Fig. 12 is a plan view of the under side of the same;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 13, 13 of Fig.9;

Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 14, 14 of Fig.9, and

Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 15, 15 of Fig.11.

Referring to the drawings, first to Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive, 1 representsa suitable saw blade, which is preferably provided with an extendedoperating rod or member 2 of suitable length, having a handle 8 forconvenience in grasping and operating. A frame 4 is provided, which forconvenience in holding and operating the device, may be provided with ahandle or grip 5. As shown, the handle 5 is mounted on a tube or casing6 of the desired length, which is secured to the frame 4, the operatingrod 2 projecting through the tube 6.

Arranged on the frame 4, preferably at the free end thereof, is an arm7, and pivotally secured thereto at 9 is an arm 8, which is extended asat 10 in the form of a hook and provided with teeth, or serrated at 11and 12. Two members 13 suitably secured to frame 4 form a guide for themember 8, and afford a very rigid construction. The end of the saw ispreferably rounded as at 14, as will be more fully described hereafter.Arm 8 is provided with an extension 15, the arm 8 and extension 15 beingpivotally secured at 9 to the part 7, forming substantially a bellcrank.Member Sis controlled or operated by a rod 16, or its equivalent, whichextends back into near to the handle 5, and is arranged to be controlledin any desired manner. In Fig. 1 rod 16 is connected through a link 19to a trigger 17 pivotally secured at 18 to a part 21, carried on theframe and tube 6. If desired, a spring 20 may be arranged as shown.Where the spring is omitted, the member 16 may, of course, extenddirectly to the trigger 17 and be secured thereto. In Fig. 2, member 16is secured to the spring 20, which is secured to a hooked member or link29, adapted to fit or engage in any of the notches 22 in the member 21.One or more guides 23 may be provided on the frame 4 for guiding themember 16, if so desired. Likewise, one or more. guides 24 may bearranged on the frame for the rod 2. This is particularly desirablewhere the rod 2 and frame 4 are of considerable length. Guide 24 mayalso be so positioned that it will act as a stop for the saw. The samebeing more or less resilient in the preferred construction, maintainsthe rod 2 in place, but permits its giving slightly in case of strain.here the member 24 is not employed, a stop 25 may be arrangedat the endof the saw, adapted to engage with the frame 4 when the saw is drawnback a sufficient distance. If desired, a member 26 may be pro vided onthe frame part 7 to maintain the saw out of engagement with member 7,this being particularly desirable since ordinarily the teeth are set inthe usual manner. I also show a member 27 at the end of the saw (seeFigs. 1, 3 and 8) the purpose of the same being to prevent thesaw beingdrawn through the cut during the sawing operation. A limb or branch 28is shown, and in Fig. 1 the saw is partly cut through the same. In Fig.3, however, the parts are shown in the position just before pushing thesaw into engagement with the limb. The operation of the device will bemore fully described hereafter.

In the form of device shown in Fig. 9, the construction is very similar,but with slight changes. In the construction previously described ametal frame was shown, while in the construction shown in Figs. 9 .to 15a wooden frame is shown. However, it will be obvious that the frameshown in Figs. 9 to 15 may be modified and constructed of othermaterial, if so desired. Referring to these figures, 31 represents a sawblade, which is secured to the operating rod 32, provided with a grip orhandle 33. The frame 34 is slotted to receive the saw back, and providedwith a grip 35. At the end of the frame 34 is a frame part 37,preferably consisting of the two similar parts 37, which are eX- tendedas at 37 and secured to 34. The two members are secured together andmember 38 pivotally secured thereto at 39. The member 38 is formed witha forked end 40, 41, preferably serrated as at 42. Arm 38 is also formedwith an extension 45 forming a bell-crank, to which is secured a rod oroperating member 46, which may be suitably secured to a trigger 47,pivotally secured to' the frame at 48. As shown, member 46 is secured toa link 49, which is pivotally secured to the trigger. I have shown themembers 51 and 52 for guiding and bracing rod 46 and a guiding member 53for the rod 32. This last, mentioned member 53 is shown so positioned asto form a stop for thQ'STQ W- I haYe shown a member 50 on the saw blade,similar to member 27 in the other construction, and the saw ispreferably beveled or cut at an angle as at 44.

The operation of the device shown in' 1 ride up on the branch, and thebranch is engaged by the scrrated teeth 11 and 12, so that the device issecurely clamped to the tree branch. The grip 5 may then be held and thesaw operated through the grip 3 and rod ,2. The limb or branch of thetree is prevented from swaying by the member 8. The pressure of the sawupon the branch is controlled by means of the trigger 17, operatingthrough the rods 19 and 16 on the bell-crank 8, 15.. lVhere the deviceis of considerable length, the tube 6 being extended some distance and,the rod 2 correspondingly lengthened, the construction shown in Fig. 2may be employed. In this case, however, the pressure on the arm 8 cannotbe controlled while sawing since it is necessary to remove the saw inorder to adjust the position of 29 in the notches 22 to vary thepressure. However, the notches 22 form adjustments for various sizedlimbs or branches.

The operation of the device shown in Figs. 9 to 12 is exactly similarexcept that the trigger 47 is shown for controlling a slightly differentshaped member 38, which corresponds to Fig. 8 on the first mentionedconstruction. With either device the branch may be sawed off, eventhough considerable distance from the operator, without difficulty, thelimb being maintained steady to prevent it from swaying or sagging. Theadvantage (if the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 9 where the triggeris employed is that the pressure may be conserved on the back stroke,and a better control of the pressure over a wide range of limbs isobtained, adapting it to any size from a small twig to a large limb.There the spring is omitted between the bell-crank and the trigger 1 andlink, similar to that shown in Fig. 9, a more positive and more completecontrol is obtained, since the operator can positively manipulate thejaws of member 38. While the spring is shown in Fig. 1, that is merelyfor illustration, a rigid connection being ordinarily more desirable.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that variousimmaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing'fromthe spirit of my invention;

hence I do not Wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exactform, construction, arrangement or combination of parts herein shown anddescribed, or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A saw,a carrier therefor arranged to slidably embrace the back edge of thesaw, said carrier extended at one end to form a handle, an operating rodfor said saw extending to the handle end of said carrier, means carriedby the saw blade for limiting the movement of the saw, and means formaintaining the saw in operative relation with the work to be cut,comprising a V- shaped part having an extended part pivotally secured tothe carrier and formed with an extension at one side formingsubstantially a bell-crank lever, a controlling rod secured to saidextension and extending back toward the handle end of said carrier, andadjustably secured thereto.

2. A saW, a carrier therefor arranged to slidably embrace the back edgeof the saw, said carrier extended at one end to form a handle, anoperating rod for said saw extending to the handle end of said carrier,

means on said carrier for engaging a portion of the saw blade andlimiting the movement of the saw toward the handle, and means formaintaining the saw in operative relation with the work to be cut,comprising a V-shaped part having an extended part pivotally secured tothe carrier and formed with an extension at one side formingsubstantially a bell-crank lever, a con trolling rod secured to saidextension and extending back toward the handle end of said carrier, andsecured to a trigger arranged thereat.

3. In a device of the kind described and in combination, a suitable sawblade having one end cut at an angle and provided with a lug projectingbeyond the face of the saw at said end, a grooved carrier for said saw,said saw arranged in said groove and slidably movable relative thecarrier, a yoke carried at the end of said carrier and embracing thesaw, a work clamping member pivotally carried by said yoke, said carrierprovided with a handle at one end, a saw operating rod secured to thesaw and extending to near the said handle, and controlling means forsaid Work clamping member mounted on said handle, and operativelyconnected with the work clamping member.

4-. The combination in a device of the kind described of a groovedmember of suitable material having a handle at one end, a saw bladeslidably arranged in said groove, means for maintaining said blade inplace, an operating rod on said blade secured thereto and extending toadjacent the handle, a V-shaped member pivotally secured to said groovedmember adjacent the saw and movable toward the cutting edge thereof, andmeans for controlling said V- shaped member as desired.

5. A pruning device of the kind described,

comprising the combination of a tubular pole, a reciprocating sawarranged at one end of said pole and carried thereby, an operating rodfor reciprocating said saw, said 6. A pruning device of the kinddescribed and in combination, a pole, a saw arranged at one end of saidpole and carried thereby, means extending from said saw to the oppositeend of the pole for reciprocating the saw lengthwise, means pivotallymounted on the end of the pole adjacent to said saw for engaging thework to be cut, and means cooperating with said last mentioned means formoving the saw transversely to its direction of travel during thereciprocation thereof.

7. In a pruning device of the kind described and in combination, a pole,a saw, carried on the end thereof, means extending to the oppositeend-of the said pole for re ciprocating said saw, means for limiting themovement of said saw, and means pivotally mounted on the pole endproximate the saw and controllable from the opposite end of the pole formoving said saw transversely the work simultaneously with thereciprocation of the saw. I

8. In a device of the kind described and in combination, a pole, a sawpositioned at one end of said pole and arranged to reciprocatelengthwise thereof at said end, an operating rod for said saw extendingthrough to the pole of the opposite end thereof, means for engaging theWork to be cut and transversely moving the pole end and said sawsimultaneously with the reciprocation of the saw, comprising a serratedmember arranged at the saw end of the pole and formed to engage the workon the side opposite the saw and means cooperating with said serratedmember.

9. In a pruning device of the kind de scribed and in combination, apole, a saw blade positioned at one end of said pole, said pole providedwith a groove of a size to receive the back edge of said saw blade, anactuating rod for reciprocating said saw blade, said rod operativelyconnected with the saw and extending through the pole to the oppositeend thereof, means carried by said pole at the saW end thereof forengaging member and extending therefrom toward the the workto be'cutbysaid saw and preventopposite end of the pole. ing movement thereofrelative the end of the In testimony whereof, I have hereunto pole anddrawing the saw through the work signed my name in the presence oftwosub- 5 in a direction transversely to its direction scribing Witnesses.

of reciprocation comprising a member havc ing a serrated edge formed toengage the MERWIN MILLER work at a plurality of points, said memberl/Vitnesses: pivotally connected to said pole and adjust J. H. BEASLEY,10 able controlling means connected With said L. G. BRUNKER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, 10.0.

